2007 Denali w/ Nav but no Rear Entertainment

[ADouglas11]

We are getting ready to purchase a 2007 Denali XL that has almost every option except for rear entertainment. It has the Bose system with Nav and we are trying to figure out the best way to add rear entertainment. Attached is a picture of the existing unit.

We would like to be able to control/change the DVD from the front head unit, does anyone know if this unit is compatible to play DVD's? If not, what is the easiest plug and play head unit that we will need, OEM or non OEM?

Would it be recommended to purchase the OEM flip down unit or upgrade to a aftermarket unit? If we are to upgrade, would anyone recommend a certain brand to get/stay away from? Has anyone cut out the dome in the headliner? Is there anything to look out for?

Any advice from someone that has done this would be GREAT!!

I am new to this forum and look forward exploring it further.

Thanks in advance for your help!
-Alan

 

[ADouglas11]

I picked up the Denali yesterday have discovered that this head unit is navigation only and would like to add DVD. Has anyone cut the headliner to add a flip down unit? Will the stock unit cover the entire hole after cutting out the dome (see picture)?

Is it possible to swap out the head unit for a newer OEM unit and then install the OEM flip down screen?

Trying to decide if that is too much trouble and instead should just install an aftermarket dvd (headrest or flip down).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[yates ™]

Looks like it should have the info you need if read through. http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?topic=136837.0

 

[Parthery]

My 2010 Denali was optioned the same as yours. Units with nav and no DVD are rare.

I went with the headrest units....bought the GM ones on eBay for 1/2 the cost at the dealer. Installed them myself in less than 2 hours. I like that both screens can show different programming or the same.

 

[felixgun]

You only have DVD movie playing capabilities if you have the RSE package. Otherwise it's only DVD-ROM nav discs. Why not just headrest LCD displays? Each one has it's own built in DVD player. Way easier to do then cutting up your vehicle to add that RSE.

 

[Phil_B_Hughes]

Hi Parthery... i just bought the headrest dvd's for my 11 Escalade, any tips for where the plug ins are located? or anything else you can think that might be beneficial for me for installing on my own?

 

[felixgun]

My 2010 Denali was optioned the same as yours. Units with nav and no DVD are rare.

I went with the headrest units....bought the GM ones on eBay for 1/2 the cost at the dealer. Installed them myself in less than 2 hours. I like that both screens can show different programming or the same.

2 Hours eh? How much did you get em for on ebay?

 

[Ponchonutty]

You can pick up a nice set from Advent/Audiovox/MTG for around $400 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Advent-Humm...onitors_w_Built_In_Player&hash=item35d301f543

There's others out there higher and lower but these are a decent bang for the buck. Just be careful if on power source. Sometimes if you get into the wrong circuit like using domelight constant wire (orange) can cause the BCM to stay awake and kill the battery. All the lights and such will work normally and you won't know what you've done until its too late.

 

[ADouglas11]

Thanks for the advise & help. I think our struggle is that our kids are still young and we would like to be able to control dvd’s from the front seats. That is the reason we were thinking a new head unit that can play dvd’s and then either go with a flip down or headrest monitors. I would also like to be able to plug in our ipad to play movies off it, has anyone done this to the newer OEM units that have a usb input?

Does anyone with headrests monitors notice it challenging for people in the 3rd row to see the screen?

 

[nick2440]

talk to the guys at navrepair.com they will know exactly the best solution for you. Trust me. I have an 07 escalade with nav and no RSE but i sent my nav unit to them and they activated the U42 option for RSE and now i can control the dvd's from the front while my kids watch the movies on the headrest monitors.

One question. Can you watch a dvd up front while in park?

 

[felixgun]

Nope you have to be in park to watch with the factory system unless you get a GM LockPick. I've got one in the escalade and can watch DVD's/adjust nav address while in park.

@Alan: If you are looking at aftermarket look at the pioneer head units. I have the AVIC-Z150BH in my avalanche and it can play DVD's up front. It's their flagship unit that has nav too. If you don't want nav and just want DVD movie playing capabilities there are cheaper head units they make that are nav-less.

 

[nick2440]

So his Yukon Nav unit cannot play DVD's at all right?

 

[ADouglas11]

Correct, as far as I know my head unit cannot play DVD's at all. Currently I cannot watch a dvd up front while in park.

Nick, Did the guys at navrepair.com take a non DVD unit and add DVD capabilities for you?

Felix, thanks for the info on the aftermarket had unit, currently I would like to keep the OEM look but if that doesn't look to work out I will definitely look into the AVIC-Z150BH

 

[yates ™]

Why not just look into the Rosen or Advent headunits? They have a factory look but with a lot of extra capabilities. Not sure if they will do exactly what you want but they are worth looking into.

 

[ADouglas11]

Thanks! I will look into those...

 

[nick2440]

Correct, as far as I know my head unit cannot play DVD's at all. Currently I cannot watch a dvd up front while in park.

Nick, Did the guys at navrepair.com take a non DVD unit and add DVD capabilities for you?

I have an escalade so Im pretty sure all escalade nav units can play dvd's. So I don't think you will be able to do what you want unless you get an aftermarket head unit or buy another oem nav unit that can play dvd's.


I was in the same situation as you where my kids are too little to be able to reach the headrest dvd player to switch a movie out so I needed to be able to control it from up front.

 

[Ponchonutty]

Does anyone with headrests monitors notice it challenging for people in the 3rd row to see the screen?

It depends on the size of the people. If 3rd row occupants are a concern, I would lean to at least one flip down screen. Now, you could still do headrest and one small flipdown. The addition of one flipdown shouldn't be too much more. If you are going to spend money on something like this, might as well get it right the first time.

 

[Goodinblack]

Why not just look into the Rosen or Advent headunits? They have a factory look but with a lot of extra capabilities. Not sure if they will do exactly what you want but they are worth looking into.

How do these hold up?